Custom loop for 7900 XTX

[physicsjunky]

I'm thinking of upgrading my case to The Tower 500 and putting a water block on my GPU. I would be new to custom loops so I don't know what tubes and other things fit together.
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-quantum-vector2-tuf-rx-7900-xtx-d-rgb GPU Block
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-quantum-kinetic-flt-120-ddc-pwm-d-rgb-plexi Pump and Reservoir combo
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-quantum-surface-x280m-black 280mm Radiator 58mm Thick

The pump res combo on the bottom and the radiator on top. The rest of the system in the picture would be similar.

 

[cvaldes]

I'm not familiar with the EKWB product lineup so I won't comment on compatibility. There are basically one or two hose diameters for mainstream custom cooling loop builds. Pick one or the other and stick with it otherwise you'll end up buying a bunch of fittings in different sizes and undoubtedly you will end up short of the correct sized item.

In modern PC builds, the GPU generates the most heat (by far) so it would be preferable to use a 360mm radiator for the custom loop and put the CPU under a 240mm AIO radiator.

Or better yet, put the CPU on a custom water block as well. Those are far cheaper than full length GPU waterblocks.

Anyhow best of luck.

 

[gurusmi]

Just use the EKWB configurator for a basic list:

Custom Cooling Configurator | Custom Loop Configurator

 

[physicsjunky]

Thank you it's going to take awhile to save the money for the water cooling stuff.
My cpu already has a 360 AIO on it i'm planning on keeping that as i recently got it for $100.

 

[Vya Domus]

A single 280 rad is not going to perform much better than what you have right now.

I'd look at alphacool instead of EK if they have a block for your card, they're considerably cheaper.

 

[Kapone33]

Honestly EK is too expensive. Look up Alphacool. Their blocks are just as good. I bought a 6800XT waterblock from EK and it sprung a leak after about 4 months. All of my Alphacool coolers are still going strong.

 

[Vya Domus]

I bought a 6800XT waterblock from EK and it sprung a leak after about 4 months.

I guess they can all leak, the problem with EK is just that they are crazy expensive, a block is at least 100$ cheaper from alphacool.

 

[physicsjunky]

Honestly EK is too expensive. Look up Alphacool. Their blocks are just as good. I bought a 6800XT waterblock from EK and it sprung a leak after about 4 months. All of my Alphacool coolers are still going strong.

A single 280 rad is not going to perform much better than what you have right now.

I'd look at alphacool instead of EK if they have a block for your card, they're considerably cheaper.

I already looked at alphacool and they only have block for the reference card.
I could add another rad somewhere in that case.

 

[Vya Domus]

That sucks, it is what it is.

Honestly that's a really strange case for a custom loop, if you could have put the res somewhere else you could have gotten two thick 240mm rads from alphacool for about the same money.

 

[cvaldes]

I already looked at alphacool and they only have block for the reference card.
I could add another rad somewhere in that case.

The Alphacool waterblock for the reference card is apparently compatible with the ASUS TUF Gaming model. In fact, it appears that many of the AIB partner cards are using the reference PCB. So the Alphacool reference card waterblock is compatible with multiple manufacturers and multiple models.

WAK Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Acryl RX 7900XT Reference with backplate PHT EOL

PC full cover water cooler for AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT graphics cards in reference design, with digital aRGB lighting

shop.alphacool.com

Note that the Alphacool GPU configurator tool points the user to this specific waterblock for your TUF Gaming card.

For confirmation and ease of mind, please contact Alphacool's customer service desk.

You are on a tight budget and you really should be looking carefully at alternatives to EKWB. I have Alphacool waterblocks on both my CPU and GPU in my custom cooled build, they work fine and saved me a considerable amount off the comparable EKWB models. I'm also mostly using fittings from Barrow.

Currently the build uses radiators from Alphacool and Primochill. I have used XSPC radiators successfully as well. These are all less expensive than EKWB rads.

You need a fat wallet to go all EKWB. Nothing wrong with that, they're your dollars (or soon to be EKWB's). Just be aware of it.

 

[Vya Domus]

Nah, I think they're definitely not the same , this is ASUS Radeon RX 7900 XTX TUF OC :

This is reference :

 

[cvaldes]

Oops, sorry, I typed in 7900 XT not 7900 XTX into the configurator.

But again, the Alphacool 7900 XTX reference card waterblock appears to be compatible with multiple AIB manufacturers and multiple models:

WAK Alphacool Eisblock Aurora RX 7900XTX Reference with backplate PHT EOL

PC full cover water cooler for AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics cards in reference design, with digital aRGB lighting

shop.alphacool.com

Anyhow, e-mailing Alphacool is a good approach though.

Visually guessing isn't completely accurate as Alphacool specifically states that product photos might not be exactly the same as the actual product. However Alphacool will know if one of their waterblock SKUs matches one of Asus's graphics card SKUs. That's their job.

Alphacool is German. They test their products with actual graphics cards to qualify compatibility. They don't just make up random sh!t and post it on their store product listings.

It's not in Alphacool's best interest to ship incompatible waterblocks to customers. They won't stay in business very long if they regularly do that.

 

[Vya Domus]

On my alphacool block for the reference 7900XT there is a cutout in the acrylic for 2x PCIe connectors, I am pretty sure the one for the 7900XTX would be the same, I really doubt it would fit (and it will look really ugly in my opinion).

I guess it doesn't hurt to ask but don't hold your breath.

EDIT : I am convinced it wouldn't fit because the PCB is too wide, it would block the inlets.

 

[physicsjunky]

My pockets aren't deep but i'm willing to save for EKWB products. I am not digging my pockets deeper than EKWB.

 

[ir_cow]

I have the alphacool red devil 7900XTX. It was a nice watercool and only $110. EKWB was nearly triple.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
First mistake in water cooling is using ek stuff

My pockets aren't deep but i'm willing to save for EKWB products.

Maybe open your eye locally
Optimus

Optimus Advanced Water Cooling

optimuspc.com

 

[physicsjunky]

Hi,
First mistake in water cooling is using ek stuff

Maybe open your eye locally
Optimus

They don't have what i need and they are more expensive then EKWB.
First mistake is reading the title on this form and second looking at what's on the website.

Optimus only has 4090 blocks on their website as far as I seen.

 

[dgianstefani]

Put the money into AM5 instead.

But if you are going for watercooling parts, get Optimus. They don't bother with the XTX, but you can get fittings and other parts from them.

They're more expensive than EKWB since they're much better. CPU blocks from them are actually cheaper, fittings are similarly priced, GPU blocks are more expensive, but again, better.

 

[physicsjunky]

Fittings I could get from them but water blocks for CPU and GPU no. I'm good on processing power and cooling for my current CPU.

I might wait until the last few AM5 CPU's or next gen socket. The 5800X3D should handle high-end graphics cards for a little while longer.

 

[Vya Domus]

Should get some 90 degree fittings as well, will make your life easier.

 

[physicsjunky]

Yeah i was thinking about that.